The historical gardens, created by Philip II, that comprise this park make for one of Madrid's most unique and hidden treasures. Located along a green axis, spanning more than 20 hectares next to Madrid Río Park, they were declared an Artistic-Historic Monument in 1931. The name comes from a historic event that occurred in 1109 when Muslim leader Ali ibn Yusuf attempted to re-conquer Madrid, following the death of King Alfonso VI, by attacking the fortress from the hillside close to the river. It appears that he and his troops set up camp in the space that now makes up the park.
In the 16th century, King Philip II bought the land adjacent to the Alcázar, turning it into a recreational area for the Court in the capital. After the 1734 fire at Madrid's Alcázar, this land lost its importance as other areas close to the palace were favoured.
It was during the reign of Isabella II when the construction of the gardens was undertaken by Narciso Pascual y Colomer (1844). The architect's design comprising straight main avenues still remains today, along with the two fountains that line the central axis: the Conchas Fountain, created by Felipe de Castro and Manuel Álvarez (1775), which was brought from the Palace of Infante Don Luis in Boadilla del Monte, and the Tritons Fountain, a 16th-century Italian piece from the Jardín de la Isla garden in Aranjuez, which is located in front of the Gruta Grande or greenhouse. During the Regency of Maria Cristina of Austria, the park was completely renovated according to Ramón Oliva's pseudo-landscape design (1890).
It hadn't been considered a garden in the past as the space couldn't be connected with the Royal Palace, which was situated much further up the hill. Fortunately, Oliva's design took advantage of this higher altitude and created one of the best views in Madrid, with the Royal Palace appearing beyond an expansive green tapestry, surrounded by monumental fountains within an ample and shady romantic garden.
In June 2023, to coincide with the inauguration of the Royal Collections Gallery—whose Floor -3 is located at the highest part of the gardens—, two new entrances to the green space were opened. In addition to the already existing gate on Paseo de la Virgen del Puerto, visitors can now access the gardens that bit easier via Cuesta de San Vicente (right beside Plaza de España) or Cuesta de la Vega (behind La Almudena Catherdral). The gardens will also have direct connection with Madrid Río Park through the Bonaparte (or Juan de Villanueva) Tunnel—which is under construction and runs from east to west under this axis—and Paseo de la Virgen del Puerto.
The park has a catering service and public toilets.
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